respiratory
UK: rɪˈspɪrətəri | US: ˈrɛspərəˌtɔri
adj. relating to or affecting respiration or the organs involved in breathing
respiratory = re<again> + spir<to breathe> + atory<adjective suffix>
- re: Latin prefix meaning "again" or "back."
- spir: From Latin spirare ("to breathe"), also seen in words like inspire and expire.
- atory: Adjective-forming suffix derived from Latin -atorius, indicating a relationship or function.
Etymology Origin:
The word respiratory traces back to Latin respirare ("to breathe again" or "to exhale"), combining re- (repetition) and spirare (breath). Over time, it evolved in medical contexts to describe processes or organs involved in breathing, such as the respiratory system. The suffix -atory standardizes its adjectival form in English.
Smoking can severely damage your respiratory health.
The doctor checked her respiratory rate during the examination.
Respiratory diseases like asthma require careful management.
Fish use gills for respiratory functions underwater.
Pollution exacerbates respiratory problems in urban areas.